ENG 102: Art Appreciation

Module 14: Soulmaking, Improvisation, Installation, Transcreation & Local Arts

Introduction

In the previous module, we discussed about art history and unravel the past. We
hope we were able to appreciate the beauty and purpose of art. Hence, we are
challenged to become ambassadors of appreciating the existence of art. As we are
about to end the semester, let us end it well exploring the topics about soulmaking,
improvisation, installation, transcreation and local arts.
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Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

 Define the meaning and purpose of soulmaking, improvisation, installation,

transcreation and local arts
 Create a one-minute video demonstrating and exhibiting what is and are
learned in this final module as a performance task

Soulmaking (Soul, Sound and Structure)

What is soulmaking?

When we talk about soulmaking, this pertains to an alternative venue for knowing
oneself and looking into the depths and essence with what we are doing in our
everyday life. In most cases, this activity calls for an inner retrospection of oneself
with examining our very core. More often than not this is done by reflecting on our
artistic sense and in determining our artistic self.

According to Narciso (2016), the profound intention of soulmaking is centered on the

idea to be empty along the way and find peace in a certain moment and to be
able to discern essence and relevance within. This is a way of spending time with the
inner selves through recollecting and reflecting own experiences.

How does it work?

Narciso (2016) himself has been an art enthusiast seeing that one could immerse
oneself to find a way to make an activity relevant (i.e. looking at the purpose of an
activity just like creating a piece of art). Accordingly, if the SOUL (talent) and BODY
(matter) find or complement each other, the person becomes a soulmaker.

These are common soul making images that one can produce:
 Personal story: essays, reflections, etc.
 Poetry: spoken poetry, poetic musings of the heart
 Metaphors: story created translating nature’s stature into human consciousness
 Art forms: drawing, sketching, caricature, painting, etc.
 Communication: speaking, talking, giving inspirational messages
 Space studies: how space matters and how artist utilized it
 Photography: a technique crafted to draw our own stories through vibrant images
 Happy Baby Girl
Beauty &
Zandy: She
Serenity: The
survived dengue
View Deck at
at 10 months.
Claveria,
God’s gift of life!
Misamis Oriental
CTTO: Maria Angeles
CTTO: Maria Angeles Hinosolango
Hinosolango
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Check out this short video clip to deepen your knowledge and get to know the artist Narciso about
soulmaking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYr9rErIRCI.
Improvisation, Installation and Transcreation

Improvisation, Installation and Transcreation are topics closely related to bringing out
art forms to another level. This means to say that their execution is put to another
place or existence.

Improvisation

The following short video clips will give you a glimpse on what improvisation is all
about:

(1) Rules of Improvisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StESLTnGyHM

(2) Black Box Improv Theater: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZViQVCTIjI
(3) Improvisational Dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMdtrLXk8J0
(4) Guitar Improvisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC1qva-rZkY
(5) Improvisation in Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzTaU5YI3oo
(6) Lyrics Improvisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO0AKs2ObjE

Installation

Let us highlight three Filipino Installation Artists you could follow on Instagram by
Christa I. De La Cruz (2016):

(1) Leeroy New (@newleeroy)

 Born and raised in General Santos City,
Leeroy New draws inspiration from
anything and everything around him
and even jumps from one medium to
another, such as film, theater, fashion,
sculpture, and visual arts.

(2) Zean Cabangis (@zeancabangis)

Also a recipient of 2015 Thirteen Artists Awards,

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Zean Cabangis got his Painting degree from the

College of Fine Arts in UP in 2007 and was an
Artist-in-Residence at SAGER, Tenggara,
Yogyakarta, Indonesia in 2011. He adds
dimension to his canvasses by using colorful
frames and woodwork. Most of his
monochromatic landspace paintings are
interjected with man-made structures to create a
dialogue on man's incessant intervention with the

(3) Raffy Napay (@napayyyyy)

As the middle son of a tricycle driver and a

seamstress, Raffy Napay grew up joining art
competitions to help with his family's day-
to-day needs. His early works show his talent
in oil painting, but he eventually gave this
up as he started feeling suffocated from
the fumes. He later used needle and thread
and his work, "Ang Mananahi ng Buhay at
ang Makinang ng Makina," earned the
nods of the jurors of the 2010 Philippine Art

Transcreation

A Mindanawan artist and pride in the person of Dr. Steven Patrick Fernandez
presents the idea of Transcreation incorporating dance and music. He is currently
the Artistic Director of MSU-IIT’s world renown theater and performing group the
Integrated Performing Arts Guild (IPAG). In his article titled “From the Original to the
Stage: Transcreating Ethnic Expressions for Show” presents the concept of
appropriation on music and how an artist should borrow and recreate things on
stage and for performances.

The following are the highlights of his article:

Transcreation and Appropriation

 Transcreation describes what artists usually do when they borrow expressions. They take
from original sources and recreate these for another purpose in another form: the stage or
the streets. As a consequence, it is not authentic. However, there is nothing wrong with not
being authentic as long as you know and acknowledge this fact. No dance form
transferred to the stage can claim to be authentic.

 More important though is that when you transfer (transcreate), you do with the
knowledge and respect of the background of the original: its intention, the values
embedded, the overall embedded, the overall structure, and the correct forms (i.e.
considering music, costumes, colors, gestures and the like).

 Transferring authentic dance to the stage involves reshaping. When it is transcreated, it

evolves to a new set of aesthetics. It is the study of how people appreciate their arts.
 Appreciation is shared values, and sharing is nurtured by the community (audience)
interacting with arts.

Experiences of Misappropriation

 In one of the performances, Singkil version has the “prince” dressed in sparkling blue. A
“princess” glides dressed in a gown of dazzling silver. She totes a sarimanok figure on her
head. However, critiques gave feedback - among the Maranaos, yellow-gold is the color
of royalty and NOT silver. White is the traditional color of mourning.

 There are versions of the Kalinga courtship Salidsid where the male wooer spreads the
allap (woven blanket) and jerkily flaps it in front of the female he courts. To Dr. Fernandez’
native informants, these gestures insult the lady courted.
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 In Dr. Fernandez’ versions of Pangalay, he has been corrected thrice to adjust on the
differences in male and female (legs are closed) nuances and the bio-mechanics of its
execution. Bio-mechanics is a study of muscle and gravity forces on the body in motion.
IPAG studies movements through the scientific techniques.

Ethics in Borrowing

 When we borrow, like all other things, we take care of these. To borrow means that the
“thing” we have is not ours. Hence, respect is always expected in preserving one’s identity
and culture.

 Gestures have meanings. In Japan fan gestures has specific meanings for specific
movements of the fan. If IPAG performed in the Tokyo’s festival of arts with the fans not
knowing what they were doing with the fans, it could have insulted the whole nation.

 Costumes have meanings as well. In the Maranao culture, white is the color of mourning
and yellow of royalty. Other cultures might have a different interpretation. Hence,
intensive research is important. One should take time to study.

These videos will help you understand better transcreation:

(1) The IPAG Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1IJ9t5rixc

(2) Sarimanok Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMtsYqRHjLE

Sarimanok, the dance-musical, inspired by the M'ranao pseudo-bird icon of wealth and prestige
narrates of a legendary bird whose responsibility is to feed the flock. Learning how to fly through a
vagabond Ibon who accidentally stumbles on their land of Bayang Lawa, Sarimanok oversteps
tradition. The harsh laws deal her the ultimate punishment for her transgressions.

(3) IPAG World Performances: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe6EXRNbdyk

Acknowledged as the Philippines' most-traveled repertory company, the highly-acclaimed
INTEGRATED PERFORMING ARTS GUILD (IPAG) of the MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology will continue to
dazzle the world as it opens its 42nd Season bringing to its road shows the well-reviewed "Tales From
Mindanao" and "Three Peoples in One Island".

Local Arts

Art does not exist in the museums only. As presented in our first module, art is
everywhere. Your own neighborhood there is already a rich resource of art.

In the Philippines, each place has its own unique festivity or celebration. Cebu has
Sinulog as Aklan has Ati-Atihan while Bukidnon has Kaamulan. We are a thriving
nation not only of pathos of beliefs but of ethnic and festive embed colorful
gathering of tribes and rituals.
 Whether it is a call for celebration or for any religious gathering or embellishment, art persists
and exists all around us. These are the following examples:
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Commemoration of the death of Jesus Christ

Semana Santa
Source: Google Images

Ryan Aristotle Carreon, Local Visual Artist

The artist behind the stained glass of Xavier University… The Virgin known as the
Immaculate Conception, patroness of Cagayan de Oro City and the country, was
influenced by the famous Spanish painter Esteban Murillo. The former President Fr. Antonio
“Ting” Samson, SJ, would like to Filipinized this representation which is the theme of all the
33 windows in the chapel including the 20 mysteries of the Rosary and notable Jesuit
Saints. Style wise, this is an inculturated art, a Filipino baroque.

Vincent Tom Udasco, Photography (Proud Kagay-on)

Tom was born on July 3, 1980 at their old house in Tiano Mabini street. He is the only son of
Henry Udasco and Lina Igno with one charming sister, “Cherry.” He started to have interest
in photography when he was still in high school (2005). His inspiration is not a person but his
love for Cagayan de Oro. Here are his sample photos:
 Rhyan Casiño, Dire Husi Initiatives, Inc. (CDO artist) Interview Highlights

What kinds or forms of art are present in CDO?

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“There are seven recognized by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA):
visual arts, music, theatre, architecture, dance and film.”

Which among these art forms you belong? How it has been developed?

“I belong to the visual arts and music category. I conduct summer workshops at Limketkai
for drawing, painting, sketching, etc. In terms of music, I am a percussionist of the ethno-
tribal band – Dhassig band. I have hone my creativity when I was in college when I
realized I was more passionate and happy in this area.”

To whom are you dedicating your art?

“First, I dedicate my art to our God. I came to realize without God everything will have no
purpose. I also believe that art is a responsibility. It’s giving positive influences and
inspirations for other people that they will do better expressed through art.”

Source: Google Images and Mr. Casiño’s Facebook page

Adeva Jane H. Esparrago, Pioneer of Nagkahiusang Magsusulat sa Cagayan de Oro

(NAGMAC) Interview Excerpts (2019)

How does NAGMAC operate?

“NAGMAC was created to make literary arts and creative writing accessible to local
writers and enthusiasts. Members are accepted based not just on their merit as writers but
most of all their enthusiasm to foster a creative environment for the patrons of the group.”

How do you envision CDO arts?

“NAGMAC focuses on the four main genres: fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction and
drama. The group is currently working with the city government to bring creative writing to
the marginalized and working with the local establishments that give everyone and
opportunity to share their talents in public spaces.
It has also its own publishing arm that can provide affordable means for local writers to
produce their own chapbooks, zines and even books. It is working on its fiction anthology
based on stories of CDO. We also keep hosting CDO Poetry Night.”
COURSE M References

 Sonsona, et al. (n.d.) Art Appreciation: Perception and Expression. PanAsia

Book Exchange Inc. Philippines.